The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-04-21
OUR FARMERS CLUBS.
What our Farmers are Doing and How
the Work of Organizing is
Progressing.

TRINITY CLUB-sUBJECT, ''CoRN RAISING. "
DIR. D. Reid Parker: For few years
past many of our farmers have neglect
ed this important crop. 1t is now plain
to be seen what such course will
bring upon us. Go to any of the feed
stores at High Point or Greensboro,
and you will see thousands of "ship
stuff brought here from Danville,
Richmond and other places, to feed
our stock. This may do for people
who cannot do any better; but it will
never do for us. We can grow as good
corn here as anybody-perhaps not as
many bushels to the acre as some, other
sections, but plenty for our own use,
and of frst-class quality. 1t is fool
ish to talk about successful farming, if
we leave out our family and stock sup
plies. -....
Weehave all made up our minds to
have better stock, and in order to do
this we must have an abundant supply
of corn, as we'll as clover, grass and the
small grains. [ merely outline the i'm
portance of this valuable crop to us,
and would urge upon all our farmers
the necessity of speedy attention to
this matter, leaving the question of
how to do it to other members of the
Club.
j. J. White: In the first place, |
shall insist on thorough and deep
blowing of red land in the fall or early
winter, for my corn crop. Let it have
the benefit of the disintegrating effects
of the frosts and freezes. Sandy land
will do better if plowed in the spring,
for the reason that the heavy rains will
pack down and run together our lands
that we term sandy, though they are
largely mixed with tenacious clay.
Use turn plow for fall and spring
plowing, in preparing for planting.
Just before planting, cross-plow and
harrow fne-the day is past for clods.
Mark out your rows three feet and ten
inches. If the land be nearly level
and inclined to be grassy, check the
ground three feet the other way.
Never plow after planting, but use the
cultivator; double plow or sweep. Gull
tivate shallow and often, about every
eight days. The surface will not get
hard and impervious to the air, if you
stir thus often. Keep it clear of grass
and the surface mellow, by thus work
ing until it begins to tassel; then lay
by. Plant up land early in April.
If you were going to plant bottom
land, break in the spring, as it would
be subject to wash by the heavy rains
of winter. Plow it with a turn plow
and plant the last of June. By thus
planting, you avoid the cut-worms.
Cultivate the same as uplands. [ fa-
vor surface culture, as [ fail to see any
good sense in root pruning for corn
crop.
A. Parker: | prefer deep fall plow-
ing, and cross-plow in the spring. Run
the rows one way, with shovel-plow,
and follow with a gofer in the same
furrow, and thereby thoroughly break
up the hard-pan or subsoil, as pro-
vision against summer drouth. Lay by
your rows four and a-half or five feet
apart, and plant in the drill three feet
apart. Never check for corn. AL
ways manure. Place it in the drill by
the side of the corn, either when plant
ing or at the first cultivation. Decom-
pose all manures and mix with bone
meal, in the proportion of bushel Of
bone meal to each two-horse load of
manure. Mix as you haul it out, and
use freely if you expect good crop.
For the first cultivation, 1 run
around with long, narrow gofer. At
ter this use the cvltivator, double-plow
or sweep. We frequently make mis-
take in laying by corn too early. I
| don't mind seeing few silks when
laying by. By cultivating late, the
corn will remain green to the ground.
DR.. Joseph Bird: August is good
time to tackle the raw or bitter weed.
Turn them at that season as green
manure If could, | would always
begin plowing for corn in August. l
never fail to have good returns when l
begin at that time. | am not so sure